Colon-targeted active agent delivery carrier and uses thereof

Abstract

A colon-targeted active agent delivery carrier includes a low methoxyl pectin derived from Jelly fig (Jelly fig LM pectin) and a divalent cation, wherein the Jelly fig LM pectin crosslinks with the divalent cation in an egg-box conformation, wherein the colon-targeted composition is degraded by at least one enzyme in the colon of the subject to release the active agent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for manufacturing hydrogel composite particles, consisting of:
 (a) providing an aqueous phase consisting essentially of a Jelly fig low methoxyl pectin, an active agent and an insoluble salt of calcium; wherein the Jelly fig low methoxyl pectin has the characteristics of:
 (1) an average molecular weight of at least 750,000 daltons; 
 (2) an esterification degree of about 31% or less; and 
 (3) a galacturonic acid content of at least 75% to about 90%; 
 
 (b) mixing the aqueous phase with an oil phase to form a water-in-oil emulsion; 
 (c) dripping an acid into the water-in-oil emulsion, such that the insoluble salt of calcium dissolves to release calcium ion, and the Jelly fig low methoxyl pectin crosslinks with calcium ion to form hydrogel composite particles containing the active agent; 
 (d) pouring a critical volume of an aqueous solution consisting essentially of a soluble salt of calcium into the water-in-oil emulsion to solidify the hydrogel composite particles and to de-emulsify the water-in-oil emulsion into the aqueous phase and the oil phase, wherein the hydrogel composite particles are in the aqueous phase; 
 (d1) decanting the oil phase; and 
 (e) separating the hydrogel composite particles from the aqueous phase by centrifugation or filtration, wherein the hydrogel composite particles consists essentially of calcium pectinate, the active agent and water. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oil phase in (b) is selected from the group consisting of canola oil, corn oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, olive oil, linseed oil and palm oil. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acid in (c) is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, therapeutic agents, diagnostic agents, non-biological materials, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is blood or blood components, an allergen, a cell, or a tissue. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is a somatic cell, a probiotic, a chimeric antigen receptor T cell, insulin, or a CRISPR/Cas polynucleotide.